Daily Devotional for Tuesday, December 26

David’s Unsuccessful Plan

“And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house,” 2 Samuel 11:13.

Have you ever tried to blame your actions on someone else? When I was a kid, I would often point the finger at my brother or sister when I had done something wrong. Sometimes I would even convince them to take the blame in exchange for something from me. I would try to hide what I did by taking advantage of someone else.

David had committed adultery with Bath-sheba, and now she was “with child” (2 Samuel 11:5). King David had violated God’s commandments, and he did not want his sin to be exposed. He devised a plan that would cover up his illicit relationship. At least, that was what he hoped would happen.

David figured if he could get Bath-sheba’s husband Uriah to come and lay with his wife, when she announced that she had conceived, Uriah would think nothing of it. He would assume that he was the father. So, David had Joab call Uriah in from battle. David encouraged Uriah to go to his house and clean up, enjoy a great feast and reacquaint himself with his wife (verses 6-8).

What David did not anticipate was Uriah’s integrity. “And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing” (verse 11). Even after David got Uriah drunk, he would not go to his house. Uriah’s selflessness exposed David’s selfishness. No matter what plan you devise, you cannot get away with sin.

JUST A THOUGHT: “Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Chris Floyd